Daikin Europe N.V. Wins 2017 Factory of the Future Award

We are proud to announce Daikin Europe N.V. (DENV) is the winner of the 2017 Factory of the Future Award. Among 265 participating companies, (65 percent of which are SMEs), DENV was one of five companies recognised for their substantial growth and commitment to delivering world-class production. The Factory of the Future award is presented by Made Different, a joint organisation that serves to promote the future of manufacturing in Belgium.

Factories of the Future

What exactly defines a Factory of the Future? According to Made Different, a Factory of the Future embodies Industry 4.0: a vision based on seven criteria to measure the success of a manufacturing company in the 21st century. These seven criteria range from a factory’s ability to incorporate world-class technologies to developing smart and sustainable production with a focus on technology. Moreover this vision also upholds a human-centric approach, viewing employees as a significant asset for the future development of a company.

Embracing change

As the regional headquarters for multinational Daikin Industries, Ltd., DENV’s production site in Ostend, Belgium is responsible for the development, digital connection, testing, production and commercialisation of climate solutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

With the recent expansion of its Daikin Research & Development (R&D) Centre, DENV began implementing a “Factory Reform Plan,” based on Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. Since starting the “Factory Reform Plan,” DENV achieved 30 percent more productivity on the production line and in the press department, 30 percent reduced inventory, and a faster production plan. By focusing on change as the key to success, DENV strengthened its position as an innovation and development hub for Daikin Global.